Advanced primary peritoneal carcinoma:clinicopathological and prognostic factor analyses

Objective: To investigate the factors favoring a positive prognosis for advanced primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC). Methods: Twenty-four cases meeting the criteria for PPC were analyzed retrospectively for the clinicopathologic profiles. Im- munohistochemistry was used to determine the expressions of p53, Top2α, Ki-67 and Her-2/neu. Then all these clinicopa- thological factors and molecular markers were correlated with the prognosis. Results: There were 15 cases of primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma (PPSPC), 6 cases of mixed epithelial carcinoma (MEC) and 3 cases of malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (MMMT). All patients underwent cytoreductive surgery with optimal debulking achieved in 3 cases. Among those re- ceiving first-line chemotherapy, 13 patients received the TP regimen (paclitaxel-cisplatin or carboplatin) and 7 patients received the PAC regimen (cisplatin-doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide). The median overall survival of all patients was 42 months, while the breakdown for survival time for patients with PPSPC, MMT and MEC was 44, 13 and 19 months, respectively. The expressions of p53, Top2α and Ki-67 were all demonstrated in 11 cases respectively. None showed the expression of Her-2/neu. There were significant differences in the median survival between patients with PPSPC and those with MMMT (44 months vs 13 months, P<0.05), also between patients receiving TP combination and those receiving the PAC regimen (75 months vs 28 months, P<0.05). Another significant difference in the median progression-free survival (PFS) was identified between patients with positive p53 immunostaining and those with negative p53 immunostaining (15 months vs 47 months, P<0.05), whereas age, menopausal status, residual tumor size and the other molecular factors did not significantly impact survival. Conclusion: Patients with PPC should be treated with a comprehensive management plan including appropriate cytoreductive surgery and responsive chemotherapy. Overestimating an optimal debulking surgery may not benefit survival. The pathologic subtype, chemotherapy regimen and p53 overexpression were significant prognostic factors.

Comparison between peritoneal tuberculosis and primary peritoneal carcinoma： a 16-year, single-center experience

Background Peritoneal tuberculosis and primary peritoneal carcinoma can both present as an abdominal mass and ascites with elevated serum CA125. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the clinical features of peritoneal tuberculosis, compare them with features of primary peritoneal carcinoma, and establish definitive diagnostic procedures. Methods We conducted a retrospective study in patients with peritoneal tuberculosis from January 1995 to October 2010 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. During this time, the data of 38 patients with primary peritoneal carcinoma were reviewed. Results The median age was 34 years （range, 19-80 years）. The most common symptoms were abdominal distension （16/30, 53.3%） and an abdominal mass （12/30, 40.0%）. The serum CA125 level was elevated in 25 patients （83.3%）. The median level of cancer antigen CA125 was 392.5 U/ml （range, 0.6-850.0 U/ml）. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a pelvic mass in 25 patients and ascites in 20 patients. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in 15 patients （50.0%） and exploratory laparotomy was performed in 12 patients （40.0%）, and 3 patients （10.0%） who underwent laparoscopy converted to laparotomy because of severe adhesions. The intraoperative findings were adhesions, multiple white tubercles, and ascites. Frozen tissue sections were obtained in 17 patients, and 14 of whom showed chronic granulomatous reactions. Final pathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis. Conclusions Peritoneal tuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis, especially for young women with an abdominal mass, ascites, and elevated serum CA125 levels. Laparoscopy is a useful diagnostic method for peritoneal tuberculosis, and intraoperative frozen sections are recommended when the diagnosis is in doubt.

Evaluation of whether serum tumor markers in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma change following chemotherapy

Background Phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity is a known feature of many cancers.Whether serum tumor marker kinds vary and change following chemotherapy is still unclear.The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a change in the expression of serum tumor markers following chemotherapy,and the potential clinical significance in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma （EOC） or primary serous peritoneal carcinoma （PSPC）.Methods Samples were collected before surgery,during chemotherapy and during follow-up for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）-based evaluation of serum CA-125,CA19-9 and CP2 levels in patients with EOC or PSPC who had received primary debulking surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.In total,72 patients were examined,including 37 patients with recurrent lesions and 35 patients receiving first-line chemotherapy.Results In 35 de novo patients,20% （7/35） demonstrated a significant changed serum tumor marker kinds among whom the patients with mucinous carcinoma （57.1%,4/7） showed resistance to chemotherapy.In the 37 recurrent patients,51.4% （19/37） had changed serum tumor markers,of whom 57.9% （11/19） presented with serous carcinoma.There was no significant difference in median progression-free survival or overall survival in patients with drug-sensitive or drug-resistant recurrence in patients with changed tumor marker kinds relative to those with unchanged markers.However,for patients with changed serum tumor markers there was a trend towards prolonged survival compared with the unchanged serum tumor marker group.In the 17 patients with secondary recurrence,37.5% （6/17） had changed tumor marker levels.The ratios of CA-125/CP2 and CA-125/CA19-9 were significantly different after either chemotherapy or recurrence.Conclusions Serum tumor marker expression in patients with EOC or PSPC may change after chemotherapy or recurrence,indicating that in addition to the markers that are abnormal before surgery,those markers that are normalshould also be monitored during chemotherapy and follow-up.